UPDATED: Former state Democratic Party leader Charles Whitehead dies

Published: Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 01:23 PM.

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Patronis also emphasized Whitehead’s disregard of party lines, saying that no matter a person’s party affiliation, “there were no hard feelings toward Charles.”

Patronis recalled a time earlier in his political career when he first changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

“The phone call I dreaded the most was Charles Whitehead calling to check on my party,” he said.

Patronis recalled that Whitehead had a “very giving heart,” but that he always insisted on being anonymous.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen is one of those who not only knew Whitehead as the head of the Democratic Party, but who got to know him even better in more recent years.

“I’m one of the lucky and fortunate friends that actually got to know Charles Whitehead as a person instead of a name,” he said. “I had the pleasure of spending a lot of personal time with him in the last few years and I was able to find out for myself what a wonderful, loving, caring and intelligent person he was.”

McKeithen said Whitehead stood out because he came from a humble background and never forgot that; nor did he let his success change how he treated others.

“Florida has lost a great public servant, and the Democratic Party has lost one of its most committed leaders,” Tant said. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Charlie Whitehead, who never failed to be there when his party or state needed him. For decades, Charlie was a happy warrior, always working for a better, more just Florida. He and his family are in the thoughts and prayers of countless Floridians today.”

The former Panama City car dealer had been brought out of retirement in 1999 to rescue to state Democratic Party. Prior to this final stint, Whitehead led the party from 1980 to 1989.

In a March 14, 2000, article, the Panama City News Herald reported Whitehead had been credited widely with rescuing the state party from financial and strategic turmoil.

“The Florida Democratic Party will forever be touched by his influence and legacy,” said Alan Clendenin, first vice chair, Florida Democratic Party Committee.

When Whitehead left the party in 2000, he said he had wanted a chance to pursue the retirement plans that he postponed when he took the job last year.

“I don’t know how many good years I’ve got left,” he said then. “I’m going to do some of the things that I worked 42 years to do.”

“I can’t think of any state elected official who didn’t seek his counsel,” Patronis said, “To so many of us, Charles was a mentor and a guide.”

Patronis also emphasized Whitehead’s disregard of party lines, saying that no matter a person’s party affiliation, “there were no hard feelings toward Charles.”

Patronis recalled a time earlier in his political career when he first changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

“The phone call I dreaded the most was Charles Whitehead calling to check on my party,” he said.

Patronis recalled that Whitehead had a “very giving heart,” but that he always insisted on being anonymous.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen is one of those who not only knew Whitehead as the head of the Democratic Party, but who got to know him even better in more recent years.

“I’m one of the lucky and fortunate friends that actually got to know Charles Whitehead as a person instead of a name,” he said. “I had the pleasure of spending a lot of personal time with him in the last few years and I was able to find out for myself what a wonderful, loving, caring and intelligent person he was.”

McKeithen said Whitehead stood out because he came from a humble background and never forgot that; nor did he let his success change how he treated others.

“To know where he came from, that his roots never changed, just made me admire him more,” McKeithen said. “He could eat breakfast with the president and then he could sit down and eat lunch with one of his body shop guys at the dealership and he didn’t have to change the way he was.”

Whitehead owned the Cook-Whitehead Ford dealership and was state Democratic party leader at the same time Tommy Thomas, of Tommy Thomas Chevrolet, was the state Republican party leader, but Thomas’ son-in-law, Bill Cramer, recalls there was no animosity between the two.

“He and Tommy were very good friends,” Cramer said; he called Whitehead a “very dear” friend of his own, as well. Cramer met Whitehead when he first started serving on the board of trustees at Gulf Coast State College while Whitehead was the chairman in 1987.

“What impressed me most upon meeting Charles in that situation was that he was all about what was best for the college; politics had nothing to do with it,” Cramer said.

Cramer said he was “honored” to succeed Whitehead as chairman of the board of trustees.

“Charles was a tough business competitor, but he was always fair and we always had a friendly competition,” Cramer said. “After he retired from the board at the college, I could call him to help, mostly financially, through our various (charitable) campaigns and he never hesitated. He was always our first and biggest contributor.”

Allan Bense, former state Speaker of the House and a Republican, also considered Whitehead a “very good and close friend.”

“When I was running to be speaker of the house … he never found somebody to run against me. He always figured that Bay County would be best served — even though he wasn’t wild about me being a Republican — he knew that having a speaker of the house from Bay County would be pretty good,” Bense said.

Former Florida governor and U.S. senator Bob Graham called Whitehead an “exceptional” man and said that a person could spend a few minutes with him and be his friend.

“When I went to a parade in Lynn Haven when I was running for governor the first time and Charlie was with me and it was like being with a rock star. Everybody wanted to come up and see Charlie and Charlie was kind enough to introduce me. He was beloved,” Graham said, “There are thousands of people who are feeling just as I am today. We’ve lost a close friend and Florida has lost a great citizen.”

John Robert Middlemas, longtime Panama City environmental activist, remembers Whitehead as more than a great Democrat both with a “little d and a big d,” and spoke of his frequent charitable contributions, a facet of his personality that many people didn’t know.

“He supported the Taunton home down in Wewahitchka. … I think he kept the Wewahitchka library open with his contributions,” Middlemas said.

Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki is another community leader who remembers Whitehead as a mentor, saying he learned “so much” from Whitehead.

“He was truly one of the icons of Panama City and of the state of Florida and of the United States — a bigger-than-life individual who will truly, truly be missed,” Brudnicki said.An earlier version of this story appears below:

PANAMA CITY— When Charles Whitehead resigned at age 69 after his final stint as head of the Florida Democratic Party in 2000, he said he didn’t know “how many good years I’ve got left.”

It turns out he had 14.

Whitehead died overnight, leaving a legacy as one of the most influential party leaders in the state’s history.

"Florida has lost a great public servant, and the Democratic Party has lost one of its most committed leaders,” Tant said. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Charlie Whitehead, who never failed to be there when his Party or state needed him. For decades, Charlie was a happy warrior, always working for a better, more just Florida. He and his family are in the thoughts and prayers of countless Floridians today."

The former Panama Citycar dealer had been brought out of retirement in 1999 to rescue to state Democratic Party. Prior to this final stint, Whitehead led the Florida Democratic Party from 1980 to 1989.

In a March 14, 2000 Panama City News Herald reported Whitehead had been credited widely with rescuing the state party from financial and strategic turmoil.

“Charlie Whitehead put the Florida Democratic Party back on the map and Democrats throughout the state owe him a great deal of gratitude for his leadership and direction,” state then-Sen. Buddy Dyer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, said in a written statement issued at the time.

"As a party leader, I stand on the shoulders of my predecessors; Charlie Whitehead provided a solid foundation of strategy, instinct, and political prowess,” said Alan Clendenin, first vice chair, Florida Democratic Party Committee, Sunday. “The Florida Democratic Party will forever be touched by his influence and legacy."

Executive Director
Florida Democratic Party Scott Arceneaux said in a statement Sunday that Whitehead died Saturday night in Panama City surrounded by his family.

When Whitehead left the party in 2000, he said he wants a chance to pursue the retirement plans that he postponed when he took the job last year.

“I don’t know how many good years I’ve got left,” he said then. “I’m going to do some of the things that I worked 42 years to do.”